Edu Vazcot is the Head Manager of the “International Cider Summit Asturias 2023” and Technical Head Manager of the International Cider Competition and Cider Fair “Sagardo Forum” in Basque Country since 2017. He is the Technical Head Manager of the International Cider Competition “CINVE” in Madrid since 2022 and a Technical Partner – Cider World Awards- Fair (Frankfurt-Germany) since 2009. Edu is a Member of the board working for the New Cider Museum in Frankfurt (Germany) and in 2019 was a member of the Steering Committe managed by the Asturian Regional Government to get Asturian Cider Culture included as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO). He has supported international writers of cider books, and judged in several international cider competitions like GLINTCAP in the USA, Australian Cider Awards, Pomme d´Or and CiderWorld Award in Germany or Best World Ciders and Bath & West International Cider Competition in the UK.

Louann Casares knew she had found her professional soulmate when her passions collided; Human Resource business practices, a love of craft cider, and, most importantly, the people who make craft cider happen from seed to drink! As Director of Human Resources at 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, OR, Louann is able to spend her days immersed in those passions. She is a dedicated HR professional who has proven success in creating cultures of collaboration and using strategic problem solving to implement change and achieve workforce excellence. Louann has expertise in both operational and strategic HR practices within public and private sectors, and currently oversees all aspects of human resources management at 2 Towns Ciderhouse.

Felix Madrid, the General Manager of Seattle Cider Company, played a pivotal role in its early and rapid growth, despite not being a founding member. Over the course of a decade, Felix held multiple key positions within the company since its inception and was instrumental in shaping its infrastructure. His upbringing on an Oregon farm in the heart of the Willamette Valley introduced him to the intricacies of winemaking from his family, knowledge that seamlessly transitioned into his career in the cider industry. Felix’s profound impact extends beyond cider and winemaking. His expertise in mechanical automation, machining, welding, and technical design significantly shaped the company’s production excellence. In fact, he was responsible for creating much of the current production infrastructure at Seattle Cider Company. His highly technical mindset, coupled with an exceptional talent for operational efficiency, spearheaded revolutions in small craft beverage automations and manufacturing processes, guaranteeing precision and quality.

Jessica Gutierrez is a Faculty Research Assistant with the Sensory & Consumer Research team at the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center (FIC), where she conducts consumer acceptability and preference testing using their database of over 40,000 consumers in the Portland metro area. Using an experimental approach, they measure consumer response to food and beverage products following ASTM guidelines. At the FIC, their mission is supporting local food and beverage companies in the Pacific Northwest and guiding their product optimization. The FIC conducts qualitative and quantitative data analysis using data that is collected from their sensory evaluation studies.

Scott Katsma is an award-winning cidermaker, passionate innovator, and renowned educator with over a decade of industry experience. As a leader in the craft cider industry, Scott has devoted more than 11 years to helping build Seattle Cider Company into one of the largest regional cider companies in the U.S., where he currently serves as the Brand Development Manager. Scott became Head Cidermaker for Seattle Cider Co. in 2016 and quickly advanced to become the Director of Fermentation and Innovation for Seattle Cider Co., Two Beers Brewing Co., and Sound Craft Seltzer. In these roles, he developed a diverse skill set spanning beverage production and the broader alcohol industry. Under Scott’s guidance, Seattle Cider was awarded the Best Large Cidermaker title at the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Awards for three consecutive years (2022-2024). Scott has also been a dedicated advocate for the cider community through his work with the Northwest Cider Association. A member of the board of directors since 2017, he served as President from 2020 to 2024.

Shannon Hiller-Webb is the Principal of Prosparus, a Portland based strategic CPG food and beverage focused consulting company founded in 2013. Prosparus collaborates with artisanal food, snack, functional beverage, coffee, tea, fermented, zero-proof and wellness companies seeking to scale successfully regionally and nationally. She brings nearly 30 years of experience in natural & convenience grocery retail ownership/management, brand design, marketing, advertising, and PR and combines art and science in guiding a tailored blueprint with effective, efficient tools to grow customer acquisition and new accounts with strategic sales. She provides the knowledge and resources to improve velocity though resilient omni-channel channel & supply value chain diversity, SKU rationalization and diversification, robust financial modeling, verdant marketing, and business resources to scale companies She has launched new companies and grown multi-million-dollar operations through intense growth phases She is a leader in the West Coast food ecosystem, a leader in grocery / retail knowledge with deep industry contacts to bring prosperity through data-informed and guided plans.

Karl Sjöström studied engineering before ending up in the hospitality industry in Sweden. He worked more than 10 years as a sommelier in many kinds of fields (import, retail to Michelin restaurants). In 2016 he founded FRUKTSTEREO together with Mikael Nypelius, a no-boundary cider (fruit wine) in southern Sweden mixing all kinds of fruits from their own orchard.

When Johan Sjöstedt founded Pomologik the goal was clear, the mission was to give the apple recognition as the grape of the Nordics. A work that is still in progress but has come a long way. Committed to spontaneous fermentation and always searching for new wild varieties, the quest for new terroir expressions is a core raison d’être. By innovation and breaking new grounds within the Swedish craft cider community Pomologik has become one of the leading forces in the cider revolution. Pomologik started the first Nordic Craft Cider Festival in Sweden to bring producers closer to consumers and start the groundwork for a closer Nordic community. It’s now an annual event in July and takes place at Johan’s family farm. His background as a sommelier and wine journalist has served him well both in terms of quality control and blending but also when it comes to judging panels.

As the CiderSoms, Sean & Malaika Tyson develop and produce written, visual, and multimedia cider related content. This husband and wife team began their adventures in cider almost two decades ago and have converted many cider skeptics into cider lovers. Through their work with the ACA’s Antiracism, Equity, & Inclusion committee, the “Soms” have sought to increase the diversity of the cider industry and its consumers. In 2023, the ACA awarded Malaika & Sean its highest honor – the Significant Impact on the Industry Award – in recognition of their contributions to the cider community.

Zach Kamphuis is the Vice President of Business Development at Commerce7 where he has worked for the past 5 years to help wineries create great customer shopping experiences through all direct-to-consumer sales channels. Zach believes that customer experience is the primary reason why a consumer chooses a brand, and that in order for wineries (and cideries) to meet consumer expectations, they must adopt a more customer-centric approach to selling direct to consumer.